What are the advantages and disadvantages of actuator?

Answer 1

Actuator Type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Mechanical

Cheap. Repeatable. No power source required. Self contained. Identical behaviour extending or retracting.

Manual operation only. No automation.

Electro-mechanical

Cheap. Repeatable. Operation can be automated. Self-contained. Identical behaviour extending or retracting. DC or stepping motor.

Position feedback possible.

Many moving parts prone to wear.

Linear motor

Simple design. Minimum of moving parts. High speeds possible. Self-contained. Identical behaviour extending or retracting.

Low force.

Piezoelectric

Very small motions possible.

Requires position feedback to be repeatable. Short travel. Low speed. High voltages required. Expensive. Good in compression only, not in tension.

Hydraulic

Very high forces possible.

Can leak. Requires position feedback for repeatability. External

Hydraulic pump required. Some designs are good in compression only.

Wax motor

Smooth operation.

Not as reliable as other methods.

Segmented spindle

Very compact. Range of motion greater than length of actuator.

Both linear and rotary motion.

Moving coil

Force position and speed are controllable and repeatable. Capable of high speeds and precise positioning. Linear, rotary, and linear + rotary actions possible.

Requires position to be repeatable.

MICA (moving iron controllable actuator

High force and controllable. Higher force and less loss than moving coils. Losses easy to dissipate. Electronic driver easy to design and set up.

Stroke limited to several millimeters, less linearity than moving coils